Eurostar Amsterdam-London service faces six month suspension

Direct Eurostar services from Amsterdam to London will be suspended for six months next year.

 

Trains will still operate outbound, from London to the Dutch capital, during the suspension from June next year until January 2025.

 

Eurostar departures from Amsterdam will not operate because part of the Dutch city’s main railway station will be closed for maintenance next year.

 

A special terminal for passport and security checks will no longer be accessible.

 

Eurostar initially feared that the service from Amsterdam, which started in 2020, would be suspended for almost a year from June 2024 to April 2025, but a compromise has now been reached.

 

Passengers travelling to London from Amsterdam and Rotterdam during the suspension will need to connect from intercity trains to the Eurostar network in Brussels.

 

A statement by Dutch Railways reportedly said: “Unfortunately, we have had to conclude that despite all efforts, there will be a period in which there will be no direct train to London from Amsterdam.

 

“That is very disappointing because we have worked hard in recent years to make the Eurostar to London an attractive alternative to the plane. It is a particularly difficult puzzle to solve.

 

“If there had been a simple solution, all parties would have seized it with both hands. Unfortunately, after various investigations, that simple solution appears not to exist.

 

“We have jointly chosen to take a step back in the second half of 2024 and not run a Eurostar directly to London for a while.

“The new, large terminal will be ready from January 2025 and we will have the opportunity to allow many more travel;ers to travel directly from Amsterdam to London. In this way we make Eurostar an even more attractive alternative to the plane for many more travellers.”

 

Eurostar Group chief executive Gwendoline Cazenave said: “Eurostar has always aimed to find a solution that would have the least possible impact on customers, the environment and its business. We acknowledge that a final decision has been made.

 

“We are pleased that the discussions have shortened the gap in services between Amsterdam and London from 12 to six months and we continue to work on reducing the inconvenience for passengers, local residents and the economy of Amsterdam and surrounding areas.

 

“|t is very important that all the parties involved are responsible and supportive of each other to meet the deadlines.

 

“Our focus must now turn to how we can offer the best experience and journey connections for Eurostar customers in this period. As part of this work, we will still run services directly between London and Amsterdam one way as a minimum.”